Vacuum motor airflow series/parallel switching apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for transitioning at least a first vacuum motor and a second vacuum motor between an air series configuration and an air parallel configuration is provided. The apparatus comprises a controllable switching valve, a first check valve, a second check valve and a plurality of chambers. The switching valve is positioned in communication with the first vacuum motor air outlet and the second vacuum air inlet. The apparatus is configured so that when the switching valve is opened the vacuum motors are configured air series and when the switching valve is closed the vacuum motors are configured air parallel. The first and the second check valves are opened or closed by pressure differential between chambers.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/456,645 filed on Nov. 10, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically multiple vacuum motors are arranged in one of two ways, either air series or air parallel. The advantages of air series arrangement is high lift capability at highly restricted or sealed conditions, but the disadvantage is that maximum airflow is limited to approximate flow capability of one motor. The advantages of air parallel arrangement is high total airflow approximating the total sum flow of all motors, with the disadvantage of total lift approximating the capability of a single motor. There is currently no effective mechanism by which a plurality of vacuum motors may be readily switched between series and parallel configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention allows for transitioning a plurality of vacuum motors between an air series and an air parallel configuration. A switching valve is positioned between the first vacuum motor outlet and the second vacuum motor inlet so that when the switching valve is open, the vacuum motors are configured air series, and when the switching valve is closed, the vacuum motors are configured air parallel. When the vacuum motors are configured in air parallel, the total intake air is divided with some flowing into the first vacuum motor and balance of total intake air flowing thru an open first check valve and into second vacuum motor. The exhaust air from the first vacuum motor outlet is exhausted thru an open second check valve. When the vacuum motors are configured in air series the total intake air flows into and thru the first vacuum motor, thru the open switching valve, continuing into and thru the second vacuum motor. The first check valve and the second check valve are closed in this configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of this invention when a first vacuum motor and a second vacuum motor are arranged in parallel.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of this invention when a first vacuum motor and a second vacuum motor are arranged in series.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a system capable switching at least a first vacuum motor 1 and a second vacuum motor 2 between parallel and series configurations. Air enters the system from a device inlet 3 into a first chamber 10. Device inlet 3 serves as an air intake, and is sufficiently sized to allow full airflow potential of the sum of first vacuum motor 1 and a second vacuum motor 2. First chamber 10 comprises a first chamber outlet 11 provided in communication with an inlet to first vacuum motor 1. An air outlet 12 to first vacuum motor 1 is in turn connected to a second chamber 20 through a second chamber inlet 21. First chamber 10 additionally is in communication with a first check valve 40, so that first check valve 40 is disposed between first chamber 10 and a third chamber 30. A switching valve 60 is also disposed between second chamber 20 and third chamber 30.

First chamber 10 and second chamber 20 are permanently sealed from each other. First chamber 10 and third chamber 30 are separated by first check valve 40. First check valve 40 opens into third chamber 30 from first chamber 10, and is sufficiently sized to not restrict airflow in order to direct air into second vacuum motor 2. First check valve 40 can be in a variety of materials and configurations, but must seal first chamber 10 from third chamber 30 when in closed position.

Second chamber 20 and third chamber 30 are separated by switching valve 60. Switching valve 60 is sufficiently sized to not be a restriction to airflow into third chamber 30 from second chamber 20. Switching valve 60 can be in a variety of materials and configurations. Switching valve 60 must seal the airflow from second chamber 20 to third chamber 30 when closed. Switching valve 60 can be operated by a variety of means including electrically, pneumatically, and mechanically.

Second chamber 20 also contains a second check valve 50. Second check valve 50 exhausts air from second chamber 20 when switching valve 60 is in closed position. Second check valve 50 can be in a variety of materials or configurations. Second check valve 50 must be sufficiently sized to not restrict airflow out of second chamber 20 when open and must seal second chamber 20 when closed. Check valve 40 and check valve 50 can each be opened or closed by a variety of methods including electrically, mechanically, or using pressure differential between chambers.

Third chamber 30 contains a third chamber outlet 31 that allows airflow into an inlet of second vacuum motor 2. Third chamber outlet 31 is sufficiently sized to not restrict airflow into second vacuum motor 2.

Exhaust air leaving second vacuum motor 2 from a second vacuum motor outlet 32 may be released, or may be used by additional downstream vacuum motors provided either in series or parallel.

Specifically referring to FIG. 1, the system as previously described above is depicted so that first motor 1 and second motor 2 are arranged in parallel. Total air flows into first chamber 10 thru device inlet 3. Airflow is split with some flowing into first vacuum motor 1 thru first chamber outlet 11, with the remainder air flowing thru open check valve 40 into third chamber 30, and finally into second vacuum motor 2 thru third chamber outlet 31. The exhaust air from first vacuum motor 1 flows into second chamber 20 from first vacuum motor outlet 12, and exits out open second check valve 50.

Specifically referring to FIG. 2, the system as previously described above is depicted so that first motor 1 and second motor 2 are arranged in series. Total air flows into first chamber 10 thru device inlet 3, and into first vacuum motor 1 thru first chamber outlet 11. First check valve 40 is closed. Airflow continues from vacuum motor 1 into chamber 20 thru inlet 21. Airflow continues thru open switching valve 60 into third chamber 30. Second check valve 50 is closed. Airflow continues into second vacuum motor 2 thru third chamber outlet 31.

Alternatively, under certain circumstances, it may prove beneficial to partially open check valve 40 and/or partially open switching valve 60 to provide a mixed parallel/series operation.

A pressure sensor 70 may be provided to determine whether first vacuum motor 1 and second vacuum motor 2 are provided in series or parallel. For example, when pressure sensor 70 detects lower vacuum lift demand conditions, it will send a signal to a controller which automatically positions all valves to ensure a parallel vacuum motor configuration. Along the same lines, when pressure sensor 70 detects higher vacuum lift conditions, it will send a signal to the controller which automatically positions all valves to ensure a series vacuum motor configuration. Pressure sensor 70 can be any pressure sensing device (e.g. electrical and pneumatic) known in the art. Alternatively, an operator can manually program the controller to create parallel and series vacuum motor arrangements according to a predetermined schedule.

Although not depicted in the Figures, one of skill in the art using the principles set forth in this disclosure would recognize that additional vacuum motors beyond first vacuum motor 1 and second vacuum motor 2 may be added to the system in order to provide essentially any number of vacuum motors in various series and parallel configurations. For example, if five vacuum motors are provided, they could all be arranged in parallel, or they all could be arranged in series. Alternatively, the first three vacuum motors (for example) could be arranged in parallel, with the collective air exhaust provided in communication with a fourth vacuum motor arranged in series with the fifth vacuum motor. Further embodiments might involve the first three (for example) vacuum motors arranged in series, with the final exhaust from the third vacuum motor split between fourth and fifth vacuum motors arranged in parallel.

What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect 

1) An automatic vacuum motor airflow switching apparatus which configures airflow paths for at least a first vacuum motor comprising a first vacuum motor inlet and a first vacuum motor outlet, and a second vacuum motor comprising a second vacuum motor Inlet and a second vacuum motor outlet, the apparatus comprises, a switching valve positioned in communication with the first vacuum motor outlet and the second vacuum motor inlet, wherein the switching valve is arranged and configured to transition the first vacuum motor and the second vacuum motor between an air series configuration and an air parallel configuration, a first check valve in communication with the second vacuum motor inlet, a second check valve in communication with the first vacuum motor outlet. 2) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first chamber comprising a first chamber inlet and a first chamber outlet directly in communication with the first vacuum motor inlet, and a second chamber comprising a second chamber inlet directly in communication with the first vacuum motor outlet, and a third chamber comprising a third chamber outlet directly in communication with the second vacuum motor inlet. 3) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the switching valve is disposed between the second chamber and the third chamber. 4) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first check valve is disposed between the first chamber and the third chamber 5) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first check valve is configured to allow airflow from the first chamber to the third chamber when the first check valve is open and is configured to block airflow from the third chamber to the first chamber when the first check valve is closed. 6) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second chamber comprises the second Check valve. 7) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second check valve is configured to allow airflow out of the second chamber when open and block outside airflow into the second chamber when the second check valve is closed. 8) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising A controller configured to regulate to position of the switching valve. 9) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first vacuum motor and the second vacuum motor are arranged in a parallel configuration when the switching valve is closed, and the first vacuum motor and the second vacuum motor are configured in series when the switching valve is open. 10) A system for automatically transitioning a first vacuum motor and a second vacuum motor between an air series configuration and an air parallel configuration, the system comprising; a first chamber comprising a first chamber inlet and a first chamber outlet directly in communication with the first vacuum motor inlet, and a second chamber comprising a second chamber inlet directly in communication with the first vacuum motor outlet, and a third chamber comprising a third chamber outlet directly in communication with the second vacuum motor inlet, a switching valve disposed between the second and the third chamber, a first check valve disposed between the first chamber and the third chamber, a second check valve comprised by the second chamber, a controller to regulate position of the switching valve. 11) The system according to claim 10, wherein the first vacuum motor and the second vacuum motor are arranged in an air parallel configuration when the switching valve is closed and the first check valve and the second check valve are open 12) The system according to claim 10, wherein the first vacuum motor and the second vacuum motor are arranged in an air series configuration when the switching valve is open and the first check valve and the second check valve are closed. 